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Mavs and Celtics clash in Beantown

Feb 4, 2011 - 4:10 PM (Sports Network) - A matchup of premier NBA franchises will take place tonight in Beantown, where the Boston Celtics will play host to the Dallas Mavericks.

Boston just went 3-1 on a four-game western trip and recorded a 95-90 triumph in Sacramento on Tuesday from Arco Arena. Ray Allen scored 22 points, Rajon Rondo posted 17 points and 10 assists and Paul Pierce compiled 15 points, five assists and five boards for the Celtics, whose road trip included a big win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Kevin Garnett added 12 points and seven rebounds in the recent victory that was highlighted by a few veteran players lashing out on the team at halftime.

"It's funny. We knew we were messing up when Ray's the one yelling and screaming," Pierce said on NBA.com.

The Atlantic Division-leading Celtics are 13-4 in the new year and have won six straight at TD Garden. They own a 22-3 record as the host this season and will also welcome Orlando to town on the residency. Center Shaquille O'Neal (undisclosed) is questionable for tonight's game.

Dallas has won six in a row and will resume a three-game road trip tonight. It is coming off Wednesday's 113-97 victory in New York, as Dirk Nowitzki finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who got 22 points from Jose Barea in a reserve role. Nowitzki registered the 22,000th point in his career on the second of two free throws with 45.8 seconds remaining in the first half.

"We got stops in the second half," said Mavs guard Jason Kidd, who had six points and 10 assists. "We contested a lot of shots. They took a shot and we rebounded it and then we just ran."

Tyson Chandler finished with 15 points and 11 boards in the win. Dallas made 50 percent of its shots and had a 54-34 advantage on the glass.

The Mavericks are in the midst of playing six of seven games on the road and will close out the current trek against Charlotte on Saturday. Dallas, which is averaging 104.5 points per game during the six-game winning streak, owns a 14-7 mark away from Big D this season.

Dallas defeated Boston, 89-87, on Nov. 8 this season at American Airlines Center, as Nowitzki scored 25 points and hit the game-winning jumper with 17.9 seconds to go. The Mavs have won 15 of the last 21 games in this series.